UFC 221 - PERTH - Discussion

[bkozican]

Just under 3 moths away. Was reading Hunt vs Werdum is on the cards. Whittaker isnt fighting GSP here, So its either going to be Gastelum or Rockhold

Do we get the HW title fight here aswell??

Who do you want to see, What matchups do you want to see and who would you put on the card?

Confirmed Fights

Middleweight Championship - Robert Whittaker (c) vs. Luke Rockhold

Heavyweight - Mark Hunt vs. Curtis Blaydes
Heavyweight - Tai Tuivasa vs. Cyril Asker
Light Heavyweight - Tyson Pedro vs. Saparbek Safarov
Flyweight - Jussier Formiga vs. Ben Nguyen
Lightweight - Damien Brown vs. Dong Hyun Kim is confirmed

 

[Quivorir]

Why is everyone assuming Whitaker is fighting?

 

[bkozican]

Matthews will probably fight, Bam Bam will probably fight. Dan Kelly maybe?

Why is everyone assuming Whitaker is fighting?

Who else takes the Main event fight. Rob was here a few months back doing the media rounds at the Perth arena. Its just about the only option...Other than Stipe vs Francis I think. They want to make a big splash here in Perth so its got to be the biggest Aussie fighter on the Roster or a title fight that everyone will want to see. You dont think he is fighting here in Perth?

 

[Quivorir]

You dont think he is fighting here in Perth?

Unless its for the undisputed title, I hope not and think he would be silly to take any fight before then.

 

[bkozican]

2 confirmed fights

Flyweight - Ben Nguyen vs Jussier Formiga
Light HW - Tyson Pedro vs Saparbek Safarov

 

[Guy Threepwood]

I read earlier today that Cerrone vs Taisumov may be on this card, but later saw Helwani said the fight hasn't been offered. I also read that it's likely to be Rockhold who fights Whitaker on this card, possibly for the undisputed middleweight belt if GSP has decided he won't be fighting at 185 any more.

 

[Dan]

Whitaker has to be promoted to undisputed champion.

I like the fight between him and Rockhold but no defending interim belt bullshit.

 

[DazalenkoUBewty]

HW belt would be nice.

 

[JG22]

Ngannou Stipe would be mad but probably unlikely

Whittaker fight would be best possible

 

[JG22]

May be too early for Alvarez Poirer

 

[Stevi_Tigers]

Hope they go all out for the card

 

[Barry Roundhouse]

Will almost certainly be for the undisputed title as GSP said yesterday he is likely relinquish his title due to some stomach disease/illness he developed due to eating so much to put on muscle mass (the biggest paper championship reign in history? I'd say so. He will go into the record books but I ain't considering him a MW champ)

 

[Quivorir]

* GSP.

 

[Guy Threepwood]

Will almost certainly be for the undisputed title as GSP said yesterday he is likely relinquish his title due to some stomach disease/illness he developed due to eating so much to put on muscle mass (the biggest paper championship reign in history? I'd say so. He will go into the record books but I ain't considering him a MW champ)

The guy convincingly beat the reigning champion and due to an illness has decided to not stay at the weight class. How does that make him a paper champion?

 

[Barry Roundhouse]

The guy convincingly beat the reigning champion and due to an illness has decided to not stay at the weight class. How does that make him a paper champion?

Didn't earn or deserve the shot. And now won't defend it. He beat the champ but he isn't even remotely close to the best MW. Would be lucky to be top 5. He has the gold but for me, it doesn't represent a championship.

Why did he choose MW over WW if it was such a strain to get up in size?

I'm skeptical of the illness, and even if he does have it, he went to middleweight through choice... Why not face Woodley? It seems he choose the easier fight.

For me, this tarnishes his legacy, not enhance it.

This probably should have gone in the 'unpopular opinion' thread, but it has left a salty taste in my mouth.

 

[Bostonian]

Hard for GSP to keep that size up now he's being tested regularly...

 

[Ry009]

I think titles are meaningless these days, and at the end of the day the buck stops with the UFC, not the fighters, so the angst should be directed towards them. GSP is close to the GOAT, and an excellent representive of the sport.

That being said, illness or not; he was never going to to defend the title. Amazing effort regardless, but like Conor didn’t beat anyone in the division for it, and never defended it.

Anyhoo, never been to Perth but looks like i am now

 

[Nickos66]

Robbie vs Rockhold confirmed for 221.

No word yet on whether it's for the undisputed or interim title.

 

[Quivorir]

Its undisputed. Like it should be. * GSP.

 

[Nickos66]

Awwww yiss.

 

[Barry Roundhouse]

Its undisputed. Like it should be. **** GSP.

* yeah Bobby Knuckles.

Rockhold is a scary matchup but it should be a cracker either way. Rockhold $1.80 vs Whittaker $1.90 with sports bet.

How confident are we all?

 

[Yellow Feathers]

This is huge! Any idea of how much the tickets will be?

 

[bkozican]

This is huge! Any idea of how much the tickets will be?

No word yet, We should know in the coming weeks

 

[bkozican]

One has to wonder what Bisping is thinking. Took the "payday" fight with GSP...Maybe he should of waited for 221 in Aus

 

[Nickos66]

One has to wonder what Bisping is thinking. Took the "payday" fight with GSP...Maybe he should of waited for 221 in Aus

Meh, he'd have gotten finished either way.

GSP probably would've earned him more $$$ than the Bobby Knuckles fight.